Two Alaska State Troopers killed in Tanana

Troopers have released the names of the two officers killed Thursday in the line of duty. Sgt. Patrick Scott Johnson and Trooper Gabriel “Gabe” Rich were killed while investigating an incident in Tanana. Their families have been notified, according to an online dispatch posted to the Alaska State Troopers website.

In a statement issued just after 9 p.m., Gov. Sean Parnell called the incident a “senseless, brutal crime.”

Both Sgt. Johnson and Trooper Rich were from the Fairbanks Rural Service Unit.

Original post 6:24 p.m.

Two Alaska State Troopers were killed in the line of duty Thursday in Tanana, according to a press release from the law enforcement agency.

The victims’ names have not been released. One person has been detained as part of the investigation.

Other details about the incident were sketchy late Thursday. The press release said the troopers were following up on a report from Wednesday that someone had brandished a firearm in Tanana.

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is looking into the Troopers’ deaths.